Property seekers in West Sussex are paying up to £34,000 more than the price of the average home in England and Wales.

The national average price rose by 8.46 per cent in a year to £118,827.

But the average price for a home in West Sussex has reached £153,420 - £34,593 more than the national average.

According to the latest property prices published today by the Land Registry, house hunters in West Sussex are paying an average of £243,493 for a detached house and £147,473 for a semi-detached property.

Last year the average price of a detached house in West Sussex set buyers back £231,121, and a semi-detached home £128,580.

A terraced home costs £118,158 this year compared to £103,879 last year while buyers hoping to snap up a flat pay £90,690, almost £18,000 more than the cost this time last year.

Financial experts warned the housing market could stall nationally after the September 11 crisis but the figures showed prices continued to increase across the country, although the rate was slower than previous years.

In East Sussex the average price of a home is £128,355. An average detached home costs £200,125, a semi-detached £127,406, a terrace £103,546 and a flat £68,779.

In Brighton and Hove the average price of a home is £150,963.

An average detatched home costs £243,616, a semi-detached £170,442, a terrace £171,199 and a flat £117,911.

Phil Graves, of Graves Jenkins, which has offices across Sussex, said: " I think there will be stabilisation this year. I can't see a slump and I can't see a massive price rise in 2002."